Life & Style | Motoring

Seat belt issues force Toyota to recall 90,189 Highlanders in US

Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, is recalling 90,189 Highlander sport-utility vehicles in the US because third-row seat belts may not lock in some child-safety seats.

  • Bloomberg
  • Published: 00:27 May 5, 2008
  • Gulf News

New York: Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, is recalling 90,189 Highlander sport-utility vehicles in the US because third-row seat belts may not lock in some child-safety seats.

The recall affects 2008-model gasoline and hybrid Highlanders, the automaker said in a letter posted on the web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The belts may not tightly secure child seats, possibly resulting in an injury in a crash, Toyota said.

Toyota will begin notifying owners in June and has asked dealers to stop selling affected models until the problem is fixed, said Bill Kwong, a spokesman for the Toyota City, Japan- based automaker. Dealers will install a seat-belt component with a new design, without cost to the vehicle owners.

US sales of the Highlander rose 5.2 per cent to 43,676 this year through April, the company said in a statement yesterday. The model ranks second in sales among Toyota's sport-utility vehicles, behind the RAV4.

Meanwhile, Toyota Motor yesterday announced new manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) for certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles, effective mid-to late May 2008.

At this time, pricing for the all-new 2008 Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicle (SUV), the 2008 Tacoma pickup truck, the all-new 2009 Corolla compact car and all-new 2009 Matrix crossover utility vehicle pricing remains unchanged.

The only 2009 model year Toyota vehicle to receive a price adjustment is the Toyota Camry. The gas model increases $200 or 0.9 per cent and carries a new base MSRP of $18,920.

The hybrid model, which was introduced as a 2007 model in late 2006, increases by $300 or 1.1 per cent and carries a new base MSRP of $25,650.

The Highlander midsize SUV gas model posts a price increase of $200, or 0.7 per cent, and will carry a new base MSRP of $27,500.

The problem is that everyone is anxious about certain sudden changes, including you. But while you're biding your time until you learn more, others are taking action, and it isn't always well thought out. The best strategy? For now – distract them.

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